The Firm

The Barnes Law Firm is passionate about appeals and believes that preparing a case for appeal prepares it better for trial and settlement.

This is a full-service appellate firm whose goal is to help attorneys and individuals translate cases from the jury to the appellate courts. The firm helps attorneys and individuals solve and address complex trial and appellate procedural and legal issues.

Why hire an appellate attorney?

Working and trying a case with an appeal in mind will increase the chance of success at settlement, trial, and on appeal. Hiring an appellate attorney at the dispositive motion or trial stage of a case allows the trial attorney to focus on the presentation to a judge or jury, and the appellate attorney to shape the theory of a case while ensuring issues are preserved for a potential appeal.

An appellate attorney will ensure that key appellate issues are preserved, choose issues most likely to result in a favorable opinion while focusing on the appropriate standards of review, create a comprehensive Record on Appeal, and carefully review applicable law.

Approach

Barnes Law Firm approaches each case from an appellate perspective and integrates that with trial counsel’s litigation approach, strategy, and style. Litigation is a multi-faceted practice that, in today’s legal environment, requires a forward-thinking approach at each stage and constant anticipation of procedural and evidentiary issues.

Litigation and appeals require focus on evidence, causation, damages, procedure, and strategy all at once. An insurance adjuster, jury, and appellate court know only the story presented by the litigation team. An appellate attorney can shape the story for effective translation to an appeal. Preparing a case for an appeal prepares it better for trial and settlement.

After trial, a well-prepared case presents an opportunity, not a road block. An appeal has the potential to regain or save a desired case outcome, shape an area of law, and affect the trial methods and strategies of similar, future cases in an attorney’s particular practice area.

The settlement value of a case may be enhanced by thorough preparation for appeal, including preserving issues and strategically choosing which evidence to present and in what form.

Kathleen Barnes has experience working in the Court of Appeals and can identify advantageous methods to frame a case for appeal and anticipate complex procedural issues. Whether you are faced with a disappointing ruling or are interested in protecting a judgment in your client’s favor, involving appellate support will bring a fresh perspective to your client’s case.

Practice Areas and Services

Trial and Appellate Services

Barnes Law Firm can assist at all stages of a case through state and federal appeals, including:

Motions/Pretrial

Motions and memoranda for summary judgment, motions to dismiss, motions in limine, and research.

Appeal

Kathleen Barnes

Kathleen began her career as an appellate law clerk to the Honorable John Cannon Few, then Chief Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals, now a Justice on the South Carolina Supreme Court. She served as Justice Few’s law clerk for two years. In July 2014, Kathleen started the Barnes Law Firm in Hampton, South Carolina. She helps lawyers and individuals navigate the litigation and appellate process. Kathleen’s experience from the Court of Appeals helps her identify and analyze issues in a case and frame the record for transition to an appeal.

Kathleen argued before the South Carolina Supreme Court, South Carolina Court of Appeals, and U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. She has written briefs for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, South Carolina Supreme Court, and South Carolina Court of Appeals.

Kathleen lives in Hampton, SC, with her daughter and husband, William Barnes, who practices law in Hampton at Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, & Detrick.

Bar Admissions:

South Carolina, 2010

Georgia, 2012

U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, 2012

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2014

U.S. Supreme Court, 2015

Education:

Charleston School of Law, 2010, J.D., summa cum laude

The Charleston Law Review, Assistant Editor in Chief

Moot Court Board

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007, B.A., Journalism and Mass Communication

Professional Associations and Memberships:

South Carolina Bar Association

Georgia Bar Association

South Carolina Bar Torts & Insurance Practice Section Council Member

Charleston School of Law, Alumni Association Board Member (2013-2015), President (2013)

FOCUSING ON APPELLATE LAW

Kathleen C. Barnes

Disclaimer

Barnes Law Firm, LLC assesses each case individually, and results may vary depending on the facts and law involved in a particular case. This website is not intended to compare the services of Barnes Law Firm, LLC to the services of any other law firm or lawyer or to imply specialization or certification by any organization not previously approved by the Supreme Court of South Carolina’s Commission on Legal Education and Specialization.

The material contained on this web site was prepared by Barnes Law Firm, LLC for informational purposes and is not to be considered advertising or legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute or create, an attorney-client relationship between Barnes Law Firm, LLC and any reader or recipient of this information. Any link or reference to a third party found on our internet site is not an express or implied endorsement by Barnes Law Firm, LLC as to that third party or the information provided.

Statement in compliance with Rules of Professional Conduct of States other than South Carolina: Unless otherwise indicated within an individual attorney’s biographical information, a lawyer associated with this firm is not certified by any other state’s Board of Legal Specialization or its equivalent.